Mattress attachment apparatus

ABSTRACT

An attachment apparatus is provided for releasably securing a mattress to a bed frame, the attachment apparatus including at least one set of two lengths of rope each attached to the mattress casing with each length of rope having a loop disposed for fastener engagement to the bed frame; and at least two rope fasteners, each rope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent to one of the loops, for removably engaging the loop and thereby releasibly securing the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field ofconvertible sofa beds. More specifically the present invention relatesto an attachment apparatus for removably securing a mattress to aconvertible sofa bed, including those known as futons. The sofa bed isof generally conventional design, including a frame having an elongateseat panel with optional seat panel longitudinal end panels having endpanel upper portions defining seat arms, a pivoting panel pivotallymounted to the seat panel to swing upward into a seat mode in which thepivoting panel functions as a back rest and to swing downward into a bedmode in which the pivoting panel becomes horizontally contiguous withthe seat panel so that the seat panel and backrest panel together definea composite bed panel, and including a mattress which rests a againstthe seat panel and the pivoting panel. Legs preferably extend downwardfrom the bed frame. The mattress itself is mostly conventional andpreferably substantially rectangular, including two opposing mattressfirst side wall segments along its length and two opposing mattresssecond side wall segments along its width having second side wallsegment upper and lower edges, and including two opposing mattress facesand a mattress outer skin generally called the casing. The attachmentapparatus includes at least one set of two lengths of rope, which areincorporated into the mattress partially underneath the casing, eachlength of one set of rope extending respectively along each second sidewall segment lower edge, preferably at the center of each given secondside wall segment lower edge and another set, if provided, being thesame at the corresponding upper edges. The middle portion of each lengthof rope is made to emerge from the inside of the casing and then returnback inside the casing so as to form a loop for engagement to the frame.The portions of the rope disposed within the mattress is firmly sewnthereto. A mattress cover is preferably provided, which is generallyconventional as well except for the addition of cover rope portspositioned to register with the mattress rope loops when the mattresscover is fitted onto the mattress. The apparatus further includes a ropefastener secured to the bed frame adjacent to the locations of the twolower rope exposed loops when the mattress is operationally in place onthe bed frame, for releasably engaging each corresponding lower ropeexposed loop and thus releasibly but securely holding the mattressagainst movement relative to the bed frame under forces of peoplesitting on and rising from the mattress.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There have long been convertible sofa beds for appearing andfunctioning as sofas, but being convertible into beds when desired.These beds have included seat panels and backrest panels pivotallymounted relative to the seat panels to pivot down into a bed mode tobecome horizontal and thereby to extend the seat panel and to pivot upin a seat mode to define a seat back rest, and a mattress which restsagainst the seat and backrest panels. A problem with these prior bedshas been that the mattress rests on the seat and pivoting panelsloosely, and often slides out of position when a user sits on it.

[0005] A few structural modifications have been tried, unsuccessfully,to solve this problem. One such modification has been a barrier alongthe forward edge of the seat panel, under the knees of a seated person.Yet these barriers have either been sufficiently high to have hurt ormade uncomfortable the legs of the seated person or have been too lowand failed to accomplish their objective. Non-skid surfaces have proveninadequate to the task, and hook and loop fasteners have tended tobecome dislodged. Prior clips for securing the mattress have torn loose.

[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide amattress attachment apparatus which releasibly, but reliably secures themattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame withoutcausing discomfort to the user.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide such anattachment apparatus which can be operated easily for engagement anddisengagement of the mattress without need of any tools and whichpermits mattress engagement with either face of the mattress directedoutward.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to providesuch an attachment apparatus which can be incorporated into bed framesduring manufacture and alternatively can be retrofitted to existingframes and mattresses.

[0009] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide suchan attachment apparatus which is durable, reliable and inexpensive tomanufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives,as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading andinterpretation of the entire specification.

[0011] An attachment apparatus is provided for releasably securing amattress to a convertible bed frame, the frame including a substantiallyhorizontal seat panel, a seat panel forward end and a seat panelrearward end and two opposing seat panel lateral ends, and a pivotingpanel having a pivoting panel free end, two opposing pivoting panellateral ends and a pivoting panel mounted end pivotally mounted to theseat panel so that the pivoting panel is pivotable upwardly to functionas a back rest and is pivotable downwardly to become substantiallyhorizontal and contiguous with the seat panel rearward end and therebyfunction as a composite bed panel, the mattress including first andsecond mattress faces, a mattress side wall and a mattress casing, oneof the first and second mattress faces resting on the frame against theseat panel and against the pivoting panel, the attachment apparatusincluding at least one set of two lengths of rope attached to themattress and extending underneath the mattress casing along the mattressside wall edges. The middle portion of each length of rope is made toemerge from and then re-enter the inside of the casing so as to form anexposed loop for engagement to the frame. Included are at least two ropefasteners, each rope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent toeach of the rope loops, for releasably engaging each of the rope loopsand thereby releasibly securing the mattress against substantialmovement relative to the bed frame.

[0012] A convertible bed having a frame including a substantiallyhorizontal seat panel, a seat panel forward end and a seat panelrearward end and two opposing seat panel lateral ends, and a pivotingpanel having a pivoting panel free end, two opposing pivoting panellateral ends and a pivoting panel mounted end pivotally mounted to theseat panel so that the pivoting panel is pivotable upwardly to functionas a back rest and is pivotable downwardly to become substantiallyhorizontal and contiguous with the seat panel rearward end and therebyfunction as a composite bed panel; a mattress including first and secondmattress faces, a mattress side wall and a mattress casing, one of thefirst and second mattress faces resting on the bed frame against theseat panel first face and against the pivoting panel first face; and amattress attachment apparatus including at least one set of two lengthsof rope extending underneath the mattress casing along the mattress sidewall edges. The middle portion of each length of rope is made to emergefrom and then re-enter to the inside of the casing so as to form anexposed loop for engagement to the frame, and two rope fasteners, eachrope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent to one of the ropeloops, for releasably engaging each rope loop and thereby releasablysecuring the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bedframe.

[0013] The mattress side wall preferably includes two opposing mattressfirst side wall segments and two opposing mattress second side wallsegments, each second side wall segment having second side wall segmentupper and lower edges; and each length of one set of ropes extends alongeach second side wall upper edge and each length of the second set alongeach second side wall lower edge. The rope fasteners preferably eachinclude a snap shackle for snapping closed around and thereby engaging arope loop and a threaded eyelet engaging the snap shackle and beingthreaded into the seat panel.

[0014] The mattress preferably additionally includes a mattress coverhaving cover rope ports positioned to register with the mattress ropeloops when the mattress cover is fitted onto the mattress. The ropesegments preferably are located at the center of each mattress secondside wall segment upper and lower edge. The seat panel and the pivotingpanel preferably are formed of laterally interconnected and spaced apartpanel slats. The seat panel is preferably attached to an end panel ateach seat panel lateral end, each end panel having an end panel upperportion defining a seat arm. The bed frame preferably additionallyincludes several legs extending downward from the seat panel forsupporting the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a convertible sofa bed framewith the mattress removed, and including the rope fasteners of thepresent invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mattress having the lengths ofrope of the present invention embedded under the mattress casing andshowing exposed rope loops that are releasably engaged by the ropefasteners.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a side view of the convertible sofa bed with the endpanels removed and the frame in the seat mode, showing the attachmentapparatus anchoring the mattress to the frame.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a side view of the convertible sofa bed with the endpanels removed and the frame in the bed mode, once again showing theattachment apparatus anchoring the mattress to the frame.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred mattress coverhaving the cover rope ports of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a close-up of the preferred rope fastener.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of the rope fastener of FIG.6 engaging an exposed rope loop, with the portions of the length of ropecovered by the mattress casing and mattress cover shown in broken lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention aredisclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodiedin various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as abasis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention invirtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0024] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein likecharacteristics and features of the present invention shown in thevarious figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, an attachment apparatus 10 is disclosedfor use with a convertible sofa bed 40 having a frame 30, for removablysecuring a mattress 20 to the frame 30. The frame 30 includes anelongate seat panel 42 having a panel face 42 a, a seat panel forwardend 42 c and a seat panel rearward end 42 d and two opposing seat panellateral ends 42 e, and having an end panel 44 secured to each seat panellateral end 42 e with end panel upper portions defining seat arms 46.The frame 30 further includes a pivoting panel 48 having a pivotingpanel face 48 a, a pivoting panel free end 48 c, two opposing pivotingpanel lateral ends 48 d and a pivoting panel mounted end 48 e pivotallymounted on hinges 32 to the seat panel rearward end 42 d such that thepivoting panel 48 is pivotable upwardly to function as a back rest andis pivotable downwardly to become substantially horizontal andcontiguous with the seat panel rearward end 42 d and thereby function asa composite bed panel. Mattress 20 rests on top of the seat panel 42 andagainst the pivoting panel 48.

[0026] Seat panel 42 and pivoting panel 48 are optionally formed oflaterally spaced apart panel slats 52 interconnected by panel crossmembers 54. See FIG. 1. Legs 56 preferably extend downward from the seatpanel 42 to support frame 30. The mattress 20 itself is generallyconventional and preferably substantially rectangular, including twoopposing mattress first side wall segments 22 along its length and twoopposing mattress second side wall segments 24 along its width havingsecond side wall segment upper and lower edges 24 a, and including twoopposing mattress faces 26 and a mattress casing 28.

[0027] Attachment apparatus 10 includes at least one set of two lengthsof rope 60, which are incorporated into the mattress 20 partiallyunderneath the casing 28, each length of one set of rope extendingrespectively along each second side wall segment 24 lower edge,preferably at the center of each given second side wall segment 24 loweredges 24 a and another set, if provided, doing the same at thecorresponding upper edges 24 a. The middle portion of each length ofrope is made to emerge from the inside of the casing and back inside soas to form a loop 60 a for engagement to the frame. The portions of therope remaining inside the mattress casing 28 are firmly sewn to themattress 20. These portions on either side of the loops 60 a should beat least ten inches (10″) long such that sewing along substantially theentire length of these portions will impart great strength to the loops60 a.

[0028] A mattress cover 80 is preferably provided, which is generallyconventional as well except for the addition of cover rope ports 82positioned to register with the rope loops 60 a when the mattress cover80 is fitted onto the mattress 20. See FIGS. 5 and 7. The apparatus 10further includes a rope fastener 90 secured to the frame 30 adjacent tothe locations of the two lower rope loops 60 a when the mattress 20 isoperationally in place on the frame 30, for releasably engaging eachcorresponding lower rope segment 60 a and thus releasably and securelyholding the mattress 20 against movement relative to the frame 30 underforces of people sitting on and rising from the mattress 20. Themattress 20 can be turned over so that the two upper rope loops 60 abecome the two lower rope loops 60 a and are engaged by the ropefasteners 90. The rope fasteners 90 are preferably each a snap shackle92 for snapping closed around a rope loop 60 a, and fitted through theannular head of a threaded eyelet 96 which in turn is threaded intoeither a longitudinal end of seat panel 42 or onto an end panel 44. SeeFIGS. 6 and 7.

[0029] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustratedand shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications whichit has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intendedto be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such othermodifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings hereinare particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth andscope of the claims here appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment apparatus for releasably securing a mattress to a bed frame comprising: at least one set of two lengths of rope each attached to the mattress along the mattress side wall; each rope having a loop formed from its middle portion; and two rope fasteners secured to the bed frame in proximity to the loops when the mattress is placed on the bed frame, for releasably engaging the loops.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the loop is formed from middle portion of each length of rope by having it emerge from the inside of the mattress casing and then return back inside the mattress casing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which portions of rope disposed within the mattress casing are firmly sewn to the mattress.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a second set of two lengths of rope attached to the mattress along the mattress side wall and in which the four lengths of rope extend underneath the mattress casing along the mattress side wall, wherein the mattress side wall comprises two opposing mattress first side wall segments and two opposing mattress second side wall segments, each second side wall segment having second side wall segment upper and lower edges and wherein one of the four lengths of rope extends along each said second side wall upper edge and along each said second side wall lower edge.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the loops are located at the center of each mattress second side wall segment upper and lower edge.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rope fasteners comprise hooks secured to the bed frame.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rope fasteners comprise threaded eyelets and snap shackles.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the eyelets are secured to the bed frame by being threaded thereinto.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mattress further comprises a mattress cover having cover rope ports positioned to register with the loops when the mattress cover is fitted onto the mattress. 